Cavaliers Cricket Club, Colchester, Essex, England

1 August 2015

Opening Stand Puts Bergholt on the Back Foot

The Cavaliers Saturday XI travelled to West Bergholt today.

With Bergholt winning the toss, the Cavs were asked to bat first. The opening partnership of D Dellar and S Pillalamarri then made the Bergholt captain regret his decision as they set about adding the best opening stand of 2015 for the Cavs, putting on 95 for the first wicket (in 23.2 overs) before Pillalamarri was caught for 41. Dellar was then joined by N Jalib (21) in a fluent second wicket partnership of 50, followed by a third wicket partnership of 19 with Z Ahmed before Dellar was eventually dismissed for a fine 75. With only eight overs remaining, the Cavs went on the attack with A Sarwar (2), JJ Elliston (1), N Davidson (0) and K Hemstedt (0) all out in the search for quick runs. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Ahmed (28*) batted well to see the Cavaliers up to 199/7 from their 45 overs, with P Kalra (4*) the other not out batsman.

The Cavs defence of their total got off to a good start, with N Davidson (6-0-22-1) taking a wicket in the second over of the innings via a sharp catch at gully by Pillalamarri. The next over (third of the innings) then saw Sarwar dismiss the dangerous D Wheeler (2) before claiming the third wicket of the innings (Ahmed the catcher) on his way to figures of 8-2-22-2. Bergholt then staged a mini-recovery through a fourth wicket partnership of 22 before Kalra had ex-Cavalier L Wisbey (10) caught by D Young via a top edged pull. With wickets falling either side of the drinks break, as Ahmed claimed his first wicket via a good slip catch by Dellar and Jalib running out Rogers (31) with a direct hit from third man, the Cavs had dismissed the Bergholt top six and were looking to wrap things up. With Kalra (6-2-21-2) and Ahmed (5-1-18-2) both claiming their second wickets of the innings, it was left to the golden arm of K Hemstedt (1-0-3-2) to finish things as the Cavaliers had West Bergholt all out for 98 in 26 overs, to claim a 101 run win.